Congratulations! You’ve made through the Get Ready Month series.

During the entire month of May, the WhatHappensNow.com blog has been publishing a series called the “Get Ready Month“, a series written for anyone who wants to be better prepared for life’s unexpected surprises such as fires, emergencies or disasters.

Haven’t completed all the steps or missed a day? Below is a complete summary of the Get Ready Month with direct links to past weeks and days. Click on any link to get started.

Week 1: Prepare Your Family

• Welcome to Get Ready Month!
• Start Dialing
• Know Your Numbers
• Storm Power
• The Great Escape
• Evacuation Plan

Week 2: Prepare Your Resources

• What You Need
• The Whole Kit and Caboodle
• Roadside Ready
• Data Mine

Week 3: Prepare Your Home

• Your Home, Your Stuff - Insure It
• Home Inventory
• Home Inventory Tips
• Indoor Precautions
• Outdoor Precautions
• Monthly Maintenance Checklist

Week 4: Prepare for the Unexpected

• S.O.S.
• Filing a Claim
• Quick Tip - When the Siren Sounds
• Damaged Goods
• FEMA

Week 5: Get Ready Month Wrap-Up

• Expert Advice
• With a Little Help From Our Friends

Remember, the Get Ready Month is YOUR resource so you can pick and choose which topics you’re interested in and go at your own pace.

Want more disaster and emergency preparedness information? Head to our Help Center, Be Prepared, Articles or Links sections for additional tips.

Along with disaster information, those sections will also link you to information on other topics including accidents, theft, life events, travel and so on.

Thanks for reading our Get Ready Month series. Have any questions or comments about the series? Post them in the Comments section below or email me!

Along with the experts, we’ve received numerous pieces of advice directly from those who have experienced a fire or natural disaster. Here are the best pieces of advice:

Disasters

• Are your important records in your computer or a DVD? You may lose a DVD or computer by theft or fire – and you won’t have access to your info! Print all important records, home inventory lists and copy any videos or photos and give them to a friend or relative for safe keeping and easy access in case of an emergency.
• Always have extra cash on hand (at least $100 or so) because ATMs and credit card machines won’t work if there is no electricity. Do this even if you aren’t planning to evacuate.
• Have to evacuate? It’s important to bring something that comforts both you (a good pillow) and your children (a favorite stuffed animal or blankey) when you leave your home. And, remember to bring the three P’s when you leave: pets, pills and pillows.
• Are you evacuating your home and can’t bring everything with you? Place breakable valuables in your dishwasher for safekeeping - it’ll act like an individual safe. Also, put art between mattresses to protect it from damage.
• After a disaster: “Be very wary of …the ‘catastrophe chasers’ who come into town and pretend that they’re going to help you rebuild at a reasonable cost,” according to Hurricane Katrina survivor Charmaine Neville. “That’s where people get hurt later on.”
• Read more from Hurricane Katrina survivors…

Fires

• Listen up! Make sure you can hear the smoke alarms in every part of your home. Some brands make systems that sound all alarms when one alarm is triggered; when you’re purchasing your alarms, ask how they function.

• Lost part of your home or possessions to fire? Take pictures of EVERYTHING. You’ll need visual proof for insurance claims. What can help speed up the claim process is a home inventory list of all your lost, damaged or missing belongings.
• “It’s awful work to catalogue everything that was lost. It took weeks,” according to Hurricane Katrina survivor Amasa Miller. “But that work was worth a lot of money. The better your list is…the more chance you’ll have of getting a good claim. You have to look at that labor like it’s earning you more money per hour than anything else you’ll ever do in your life.”

Head to our Stories section to see additional tips from readers. Have a tip you’d like to share? Post it in the Comments section below.

Over the past five years, we’ve spoken with many police officers, firefighters, first responders, insurance agents and emergency workers from all across the country.

They have all provided numerous tips for emergencies, fires and disasters - here is just a sampling of the best advice we’ve received:

Emergencies

• Put together a home emergency kit. Have a cellphone, phone contact lists.
• Get a NOAA weather radio to alert you to all disasters.
• Program ICE into your phone. Don’t know how to program ICE? Click here.
• Do a home inventory. This is the most common piece of advice we’ve received from all our interviewees. Get started today!
• When you call 911, it won’t always be the police who responds. More often then not it will be a fire truck. Most firefighters are trained EMTs or paramedics and the majority of their calls that the respond to are actually medically-related not fire-related.

Fire

• Some firefighters prefer to use the word “alarm” not detector (i.e. smoke alarm) because alarm means get out and take warning. Your best detector is your nose!
• Be sure to have fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your garage, especially if your garage is attached or house is above the garage. Many fires can start in garages from cars, gasoline, lawn mowers, paint, combustible items (rags, solvents, etc.).
• After fires, kids tend to run to their friend’s house and let them know what’s happened. It is important to teach your kids to get out whichever way they can but to meet at their predetermined meeting place. Kids should pick this place with their parents and should be taught to wait there for the firefighters to arrive. Click here for tips on creating an escape plan.
• You should go OUTSIDE your home to call and report the fire. Grab your cell phone or call from a friend’s home.
• People need to understand that there is NOTHING that is fireproof – everything burns.

Disasters

• When disasters are on a larger scale, understand that calls might get backed up because the damage is citywide not isolated to just one street.
• After a disaster, stay out of harm’s way and out of the way of the efforts of local authorities. Listen to their instructions and regulations - they have been put there for a reason.

Have a tip you’d like to share? Post it in the Comments section below. Head to our Stories section to see additional tips from readers.

FEMA. Before Hurricane Katrina, many Americans were fortunate enough to be unfamiliar with the FEMA organization. Now we’ve heard all about FEMA: FEMA trailers, FEMA policies and changes…but what is exactly FEMA?

FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency and is now a part of the Department of Homeland Security (it used to be its own independent agency). According to FEMA, their role is to prepare the nation for hazards and manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.

So should you find yourself in any type of federal disaster - winter storms, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, even severe thunderstorms - FEMA might offer assistance to you and your family.

They’ll offer assistance by:

• offering financial relief (usually by providing monetary vouchers to disaster victims)
• providing housing for extreme disaster situations (e.g. FEMA trailers for Hurricane Katrina victims)
• opening disaster recovery centers for victims to receive information and assistance with completing relief applications

If you need to turn to FEMA for assistance, here are several articles featuring tips from FEMA, disaster survivors and emergency workers:

• Filing for Federal Disaster Relief
• Financial Assistance (includes FEMA and other organizations you can contact)
• Questions to Ask Your FEMA Official
• Individual Assistance Center (checking your FEMA application status online)
• FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

Don’t need assistance at the moment? Bookmark this for later reference or read through the article to learn what you might need to do during or after an emergency situation.

Dealt with FEMA in the past? Share your inside tips below in the Comments!

If your home or possessions are damaged in any way and you plan to file an insurance claim, you’ll need to document the damage.

Read these quick tips and bookmark it for later so you’ll know how to document the damage in case you experience a fire or disaster.

1. Have a camera on hand so you can get visual proof of damages. Keep extra film, memory cards and batteries nearby or with the camera.

WHN TIP: Consider throwing disposable cameras in your home emergency kit - just in case.

2. If you need to document damage after a fire or storm, do this ASAP.

• Talk with recovery officials regarding safety issues you should be aware of - safety first! - as well as key areas/items you should take pictures of.
• Keep in mind you may need to be escorted by officials and you may have a short amount of time.
• Insured? Don’t do anything until you speak with your agent; it could affect settlements. And, ask about immediate protection you can take to secure your home.

3. Do not throw away any damaged goods until an inventory is made. All damages are taken into consideration in developing your insurance claim.

4. Next steps…

Had to document damage in the past? Share your tips in the Comments section below.

The tornado sirens just sounded here in Minneapolis. What should you do when they go off where you live?

If the tornado sirens sound:

1. Watch the sky to assess the current weather conditions.

2. Gather everyone inside and away from windows.

3. Stay alert. Monitor your local radio or TV stations for the latest updates, news or evacuation information - or check their sites online.

• The stations will tell you which counties or areas in your state are under current weather watches or warnings.
• The stations will also tell you when the watches or warnings are likely to expire - meaning when the severe weather has passed.
• They will also tell you if any tornadoes have been spotted or which way they might be headed.

4. Keep an ear out for warning sirens — but remember that sometimes you may not be able to hear them or they might not be sounded in time.

5. If you hear the sirens or if a tornado is on its way, head to the lowest level in your home and stay away from windows.

Want more? Click here for additional tornado tips…

After a loss, theft, fire or disaster, chances are you’ll probably need to file a claim with your insurance company. The thought of the claim process might seem overwhelming but dealing with insurance companies doesn’t have to feel like a game of tug o’ war.

Here are helpful tips from insurance agents, firefighters, police officers and disaster survivors to help you through the claim process.

1. Start two folders or notebooks.

• One is to track phone calls, notes and everything relating to the storm, fire or other disaster.
• The other is an expense book to track all expenses. No expense is too small.
• For both, remember to include dates and times for all entries.

2. You do not have to file a claim or take a claim check right away.

• Consider other options such as hiring an independent adjuster who can act as an intermediary between you and the insurance company. Remember, it’s up to you to decide when or when not to file your insurance claim.
• Read our article Working with a Claims and/or Public Adjuster.

3. Read your insurance policy if you have it.

• If not, ask your insurance agent to send or bring a copy for you.
• Check your policy for specifics and document every action you take.

4. More tips…

Want more? Read what Hurricane Katrina survivors had to say about dealing with insurance companies…

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we’d all like a helping hand.

Enter the Help Center – a resource library of detailed, step-by step guides on how to navigate the recovery process after any disaster, emergency or fire.

These guides are written with tips directly from first responders, firefighters, police officers and disaster survivors.

Not in need of any assistance at the moment? Bookmark the Help Center for later reference or read through the sections to learn what you might need to do during or after an emergency situation.

Knowing this information ahead of time could be very helpful when working with insurance companies, FEMA and other recovery agencies.

Choose a topic below to get started.

• Help – Blizzard
• Help – Earthquake
• Help – Fire
• Help – Flood
• Help – Hurricane
• Help – Storm
• Help – Tornado

Additionally, visit our Be Prepared, Articles and Links sections for more tips and advice.

Wouldn’t be nice if there was a checklist to remind you of all the emergency preparedness tasks we remind you to do each month?

….Ta-da! Here’s a quick rundown of all the tasks you should do each month. Print out the list and add on your home improvement, cleaning and other maintenance tasks.

Check Your Supplies

1. Find extra batteries (whatever you have on hand - AA, AAA, C)

2. Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors (read the manual for instructions).

• Change batteries if you haven’t done so in 6 months or more.

3. Find and test all flashlights.

• Change the batteries if needed. (Don’t use high end batteries (lithium, ultra, etc.) for flashlights. Too much power will burn out the flashlight’s bulb.)
• Keep a flashlight by each family member’s bed. Have extra flashlights in handy places – kitchen, closets, garage.

4. Check the items in your home emergency preparedness kit to see if they’re all there.

• Change out the bottles of water and canned food items if they’re well-past their expiration date (or after 6 months or so).
• Test the batteries and flashlights.
• Also, consider changing out your supply of medications if it’s well-past its expiration date.
• Change in season? Add extra items to your kit for summer (sunscreen, mosquito repellent, baseball caps, shorts, t-shirts) or winter (hats, mittens, gloves, snowpants, scarfs, etc.).
• Make sure to put the home emergency preparedness kit back where it belongs (in an accessible location).

5. Check your Car Emergency Kit.

• Include water, first aid, and a way to signal need for help, test flashlight & batteries, warm blankets, a shovel, and a battery-operated radio.

Fire Safety

1. Check the levels of all fire extinguishers.

• Call to have these refilled if needed. Make sure that the extinguishers are returned to their proper storage places.

2. Make sure your fire escape ladders are easily accessible and stored near second or third storey windows.

3. Check your appliances’ (toasters, coffee makers, hair dryers and irons, for examples) cords and plugs for cracks or frayed areas.

• Discard these items if there are signs of damage.

4. Clean the dryer vent and area around the dryer on a regular basis, since lint buildup can lead to fires.

• Be sure to rinse out the lint trap as well. Learn more…

5. Clean stove, oven and microwave after cooking to prevent grease fires.

Practice Makes Perfect1. Practice your escape plan with all family members. Click here for instructions on how to create and practice your escape plan.

2. Do a “disaster supply kit” drill.

• Choose a night when all of your family is at home.
• Turn off the TV and lights, don’t use the faucets, fridge or the stove.
• Wait and see what items might be missing (special needs for family members, entertainment items, can opener, etc.). Make a list and add these items to your kit.

3. Review your evacuation route(s) – just in case you’ll need to leave your home in a hurry.

Keep Records

1. Update your WHN Contact List, if needed.

• Print copies of the Emergency Contact List and keep them by your phones for easy access. Review with family members on how to call for help.

2. Update your home inventory if a major purchase has been made or significant renovations are undertaken in your home or on your property.

Print out this list and add on your home improvement, cleaning and other maintenance tasks.

Making small improvements to your home now can help minimize the damage later.

Here are some quick outdoor home improvements you can do over a weekend to protect your home and its contents (for indoor tips see Day #13):

1. Make a list of the items that need to be brought in the event of a storm.

• This will help you remember things that may be broken or blown away in strong winds (patio furniture, lawn ornaments, bikes, doghouse, trash cans, etc).
• Keep the list in your Home Disaster Preparedness Kit, along with WHN Be Prepared and Help Center tips, or by emergency phone #s.

2. Make sure your house number is visible from the street — emergency personnel will need to find your house in a hurry.

• Some cities offer a program to paint your house number on the curb for a small fee. Ask your city or county administration officials about this option.
• The best place for your house number on your house is near the front door, at or slightly above eye level and lit by a light.
• When you drive home at nighttime, check to see if your house number is clearly visible. Consider moving the number or adding additional lighting if necessary.
• Make sure your mailbox number faces the traffic side of the street.

3. Clean and maintain storm drains and gutters. Removing debris from your property allows the free flow of potential flood water.

4. Add waterproof veneer to exterior walls and seal all openings, including doors. This will help prevent water entry.

5. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.

WHN TIP: Some insurance companies might offer discounts if you install disaster-resistant items or make home improvements (shatter-proof windows, shutters, earthquake proofing, roofing reinforcements, etc.). Ask about which items might help you save on your premiums.

Next Steps

1. Install backflow valves or plugs in drains, toilets, and other sewer connections. This will help prevent floodwaters from entering home.

2. Protect your windows.

• Permanent shutters are the best protection.
• Close windows and pull blinds and drapes.
• Reinforce glass windows and doors by installing impact-resistant laminated glass window or door systems or applying high-strength window security films to standard window and patio door glass.

3. Consider retrofitting your garage door with horizontal bracings.

• Check with your local building supplies retailer to see if a retrofit kit is available. High winds often damage garage doors.

4. Read our other Be Prepared sections to prepare for specific weather-related events and fires.